âItâs not exactly treason since we have a right to retrieve what was ours.â
âThatâs right.â
Jang Gi Hoo nodded with shaking arms and knees. He had lost almost all authority after the Weapon Thief Expedition had been a catastrophic failure in which he had lost the Reaperâs Scythe. His father, Jang Gi Young, refused to meet him like he was deeply disappointed in his son, and only a cold gaze pierced through Jang Gi Hoo on the rare occasions they would meet.
âYou fool. I can hardly believe that youâre of my blood.â
Jang Gi Hoo lowered his head as his body involuntarily shuddered on remembering his fatherâs freezing gaze and voice. He had no foothold here anymore, as he was instantly pushed away from the many businesses the guild had been involved in. It was then Kim Heeyoung, who was a gatekeeper for one of the four castle gates, had lent him a helping hand. Without her, Jang Gi Hoo would not have been able to survive here.
âHowever, if we failâŠâ
âYoung master, in the end, this is your choice. The fallen king is old, and it is your time to inherit whatâs yours. Hadum cannot be entrusted to an ignorant girl.â
âYouâre right there.â
The mere thought made Jang Gi Hoo livid, as he could not bear to imagine a bastard from a demon slave sitting on Hadumâs throne. Jang Gi Hoo thought he could explode when he remembered that it had been a demon who had stolen his weapon.
Jang Gi Hoo did not have any affection for his father, and while he wanted to behead his fatherâs head right now, his feet shook when he thought of the risks of failure. His father, Jang Gi Young, was coldblooded to his enemies, and he was also one of the strongest in the East. It was normal to be tense.
Jang Gi Hoo slightly raised his head to look at Kim Heeyoung, and she also opened her mouth again as she met his gaze.
âYou have to become king.â
âRâŠright.â
Jang Gi Hoo felt his libido stir as he continued to stare at a beautiful woman with sharp eyes, but Kim Heeyoung was not someone he could lay his hands on easily. Kim Heeyoung reached out and put her hands below like she realized the desire his eyes held. Jang Gi Hoo let out a rough breath as he felt himself going hard just by that little stroke.
âIâm always yours, and after you become kingâŠâ
While he had heard that, Jang Gi Hoo was still worried, and he slowly opened his mouth while feeling his body relax. He thought he could manage his father, but the gatekeepers of the other three gates would be formidable opponents.
âWhile we can go against Father with our forces, what will we do against Jung Heecheol, Kim Donghyun, and Kim HyejiâŠâ
âWe will need to behead the old king before they arrive inside the castle. Officially, Jang Ye Ri will be the one who has beheaded the king, as legitimacy is surprisingly important despite the fact we live in a world where power rules over everything.â
ââŠâŠâ
âDo you understand how a sovereign is made?â
âIs not the person who the people of the city follow the king?â
âYouâre half correct, but there are no people who follow the old king from their hearts. Jung Heecheol, Kim Donghyun, Kim Hyeji, other clans, and guilds are no exceptions. They are connected by common interests and are those who benefit too much from the current system. They do not want the current system to crumble, and civil revolts and rebellions occur only when the summoners and people are ill and hungry.â
âAn affluent city does not have dissatisfactions. Those who benefit and live in this city that has grown by sucking the sweat and blood of other small cities and people protect the old king because of this reason. They are protecting the system he has created.â
âWhat you sayâŠis a bit uncomfortableâŠâ
âThis is the truth, and you are not yet ready to become king. But it will happen. You will become king with help from those who want this system to be maintained, the gatekeepers will pledge their loyalty, and those who live in the city will continue to support you. Thatâs because that will be beneficial to them.â
While Jang Gi Hoo thought over things for a long time, he did not have an answer. It was then that Kim Heeyoung gently removed her hand from him.
âAre you on the same side as them?â
âI am different from them, young master. Iâll be heading back. Please think things over and ask for me.â
Jang Gi Hoo nodded as Kim Heeyoung left, and he called the maids outside while caressing his swollen er*ction. He needed a woman who could relieve this tension.
âIs there no one there!â
However, no voices answered him back. Jang Gi Hoo roughly opened his room door after waiting in vain, but no one was waiting for him outside his room. The space where maids and slaves that had serviced themselves to him usually waited looked empty.
âDamnâŠâ
It was natural that a curse rang from deep inside him, as Jang Gi Hoo could not believe he was being treated like this. While anger shot through his body, the only thing he could do was scream. The future king could not be treated like this, and he was alone in this long and dark corridor.
154 Part 2
âWhat the hellâŠâ
He could not stop himself from cursing, and it was not his fault. Everything was that demonâs fault, and Jang Gi Hoo began to walk wherever his feet took him. He did not see any of his guards and maids. The place he had arrived was that demon b*tchâs room, who was the same as that damn thief. It was the room of a sister he did not think of as family, who he thought of as a pr*stitute who he had used to satisfy his carnal desires.
âJang Ye Ri!â
âJang Ye Ri!!â
The guards immediately came swarming as he screamed out loud. They were what Jang Gi Hoo did not have now.
âIt is late, young master. Since the lady is sleeping, we would appreciate you coming tomorrow morning. We will convey that you have come to visit her.â
âHow dare you!â
The guard was knocked on the wall, and blood came out of his mouth after Jang Gi Hoo swung his arm with a burst of magic.
âHow dare a guardâŠ!â
However, other guards came over instantly, since they had been waiting after noticing that something had happened. There would be rumors all over the castle the next morning if things got louder. Jang Gi Hoo had been emitting magic as he could not calm down enough to return when he heard a voice from the room.
âYou may let him in.â
âHowever, ladyâŠâ
âI said, you may let him in.â
âYesâŠâ
Jang Gi Hoo felt high at Jang Ye Riâs words, and he entered the room after intentionally knocking about the other guards. He saw Jang Ye Ri sitting on a chair, wearing a sheer negligee under a gown. Jang Gi Hoo felt his libido stir again amidst the anger.
âYou filthy b*tch, you had wanted it too. After your horns were cut, after father received you as family⊠you had wanted it.â
Jang Gi Hoo smiled at Jang Ye Ri, and her red lips slowly opened.
âWhy have you come so late at night?â
He had come only to release his anger, but other thoughts sprang up after seeing Jang Ye Ri like this. He could resolve his anger in different ways, and while he would have liked her to have the horns so he could grab them, her body was enough to satisfy him.
âYou know well. I was thinking we could reminisce about our familial affections since we have not done so in a long time.â
Jang Gi Hoo slowly moved his feet. Come to think of it, he had been unable to lay his hands on her after Father had taken her in as a member of the family. While she was not as fresh as she had been, her ripe body would be satisfactory. Jang Gi Hoo had been approaching her with many thoughts inside his head when he found his feet would not move, and cold sweat continued to run down his back.
A Jang Ye Ri he had not seen before was staring at him.
âYou fool.â
âWhat⊠what?â
He saw the red eyes of a predator, which could not be called a humanâs on any accounts. They were closer to a beast.
âI said, youâre a fool. You have become what you are now because the only thing you know how to do is move your hips.â
While fire rose from inside Jang Ye Riâs expression, which he had seen for the first time, it was surprising that he could not find his voice. Jang Ye Ri was not holding him down with magic, and Jang Gi Hoo was feeling fear purely as a human. Jang Gi Hoo felt the same terror he felt when meeting Father all over his body.
It had been a moment when he had been stunned, but now Jang Gi Hoo started to spit out his frustrated anger.
âYouâŠyouâŠyou b*tch! Iâll kill you! I will! Iâll rip you apart and kill you the same way your mother was killed. Iâll r*pe you three days and nights and throw you to filthy prisoners and soldiers. You b*tchâŠâ
However, Jang Ye Ri did not change her expression, and she was actually smiling now.
âYou fool, then do it now.â
âWhatâŠwhatâŠwhat?â
âHave you gone deaf? I said, do it now.â
âYou think I wonât do it?!â
However, his feet would not move. While he was gouging out the eyes looking down on him and sewing her lips that were saying filth in his head, Jang Gi Hoo could not move an inch despite what he imagined in his head. His knees began to shake, and his eyes looked down because he could not look her in the eye. His erection was utterly deflated now.
âDamnâŠdamn!â
âI see that you cannot even be called a man now.â
While her cold voice rang in his ears, Jang Gi Hoo found himself unable to do anything. He slowly stepped back as he unconsciously went out of her room in shame. He had to lower his head even more from the guardsâ frigid expressions.
He was thinking about Kim Heeyoungâs voice and the conversation they just had. Those who are benefiting from the city do not desire this cityâs system to break down. That meant Jang Gi Hoo would not receive any benefits anywhere.
Jang Gi Hoo had no choice and began to run. He had finished thinking things over. Since it had not been a long time since she had returned to her domain, she would still be awake.